Sony make.believe

Monique P.

Monique P.

Theme Week:
World Capitals
Contestant:
Monique P.
Hometown:
Sacramento, CA
Week of:
April 26, 2010

Posted on 4/29


When the music started playing as Pat and Vanna walked out and I heard the crowd yell "Wheel of Fortune" and clap, I knew this wasn't my imagination. I was actually a contestant on Wheel of Fortune! Standing in that center spot and facing the puzzle board I took a deep breath and I could hear the theme music to Rocky playing in my head. As much as I enjoyed the bonding time with the other potential contestants, I knew each of us came here with the same goal in mind, winning! We were all at the mercy of the wheel and understood that no matter how much you prepare yourself, if the wheel isn't spinning in your favor, there's not much you can do.

Our theme was World Capitals and I knew from watching the two shows taped ahead of me that the World Capital puzzle could show up at any point during the game. Pat started right in with the toss up puzzle. What was the category? WORLD CAPITALS! As the letters started to pop up, I was trying to remember the names of the 195 World Capitals I had been studying, then it hit me "OSLOW, NORWAY!" Let the games begin! I wasn't even keeping track of how much money I had on the board, I just kept two strategies in my head. One, I knew that if I solved the puzzle, nobody else could and that would guarantee my place in the bonus round. Two, solve during the prize puzzle. The round progressed and puzzles continued, "UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR", "SITTING PRETTY", and "USED MOTORCYCLE GANG".

Just when we were getting another round started, we heard the beep for the final round round. Pat gave the wheel its final spin and we dove right in calling out letters. We went around and around calling out letters but nobody could solve it. Then the light bulb went off, I could hardly contain myself and was hoping nobody would solve it before it came back to me. When my turn came back around I couldn't wait to solve and yell out "PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL"!!! I couldn't believe it; I was going to the bonus round of Wheel of Fortune!!! Even if I didn't guess the bonus puzzle, I was going home with a handsome ransom! A $1,000 gift tag to ProTravelGear.com, a 10-day tour of Costa Rica, a 7-day trip to Copenhagen, Denmark, and $14,650 in cash!

And then, there was one…

The bonus round was every bit of intimidating as it looks on television. I introduced my family sitting in the audience and we began, R, S, T, L, N, E. When only three boxes lit up, my heart sank. I didn't get the Wildcard piece in the game so I didn't have any extra help. I was so nervous I called out one of the giveaway letters. The letters I chose didn't provide much help and Pat even said, I'd have to work this one out. I said a quick, silent prayer, glanced at the board and indifferently said, "MOVING FORWARD?" Pat said yes and opened up the envelope, $30,000! I was OVERJOYED!!!!!!

There is an old quote saying that "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." All I can say, I'm glad I was prepared.

 



Posted on 4/26


I've been a faithful Wheel of Fortune watcher since I was a child. My dad and I would watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! every night. I would solve all the puzzles on Wheel of Fortune and he'd answer all the questions on Jeopardy!. I even credit Wheel of Fortune with helping me learn letter recognition.  I had always dreamt about being a contestant and my husband always encouraged me to apply, but fear and self doubt would always kick in and I'd think "they'll never pick me" or "what if I get on there and mess up". I never seriously considered being a contestant as a reality. That is until I got an email from the Wheel Watchers Club with the subject "The Wheelmobile is spinning into Nor Cal!" There was something different this time, I had just lost 30 pounds, started a new business, and was training to be a boxer. If there was any time that I should say ‘Carpe Diem' and seize the day, this was it!

It's Sunday, April 5, 2009, the last day the Wheelmobile would be in Stockton, CA. My best friend and I decided to go together figuring we'd have a better chance and hoped we would get cast on a BFF Themed week. We motored down with my toddler in tow to where the auditions were being held and submitted our applications. Neither one of our names got called that day, but we didn't let that get us down. The contestant coordinators on site said there was still a chance you could get picked for a final audition. I checked my email daily hoping I'd see something…anything! Finally we both got the email, "WHEEL OF FORTUNE FINAL AUDITIONS…"!!!

The final audition was pretty intense; there was some stiff competition in the room. Just when the audition action started heating up the unimaginable happened…my best friend who was pregnant and a week past her due date started having contractions!!! By the end of the audition the WOF team had narrowed down the applicants and I was one of the few left standing. Even if my Wheel of Fortune journey had ended there, I was more than proud of my accomplishment. But I really, really, REALLY wanted to go on the show!

I chose not to get anxious as the months on the calendar went by and decided to hold onto my faith that I would get the call. Six months after receiving my contestant pool letter my cell phone rang. It was Monday, November 23, 2009. That call came from a number I had never seen before and I let it go to voicemail. SHAME ON ME!!! I called back and spoke with one of the contestant coordinators and got all the information I needed. I had a date with destiny on Friday, December 11, 2009 at 7:45am!

My husband and I rented a car and drove all night long from Sacramento to our hotel in Los Angeles with one of my sisters and my god brother in the backseat. Well, he drove, I slept. J I was one of the first contestants downstairs to get on the shuttle to the studio. Everybody was really nice and it was great to hear everyone's Wheel of Fortune story. From the moment we stepped of the shuttle, it was WOF Boot Camp! The entire morning ran like a well oiled machine and really is still kind of a blur. We started with breakfast, a contestant briefing, and paperwork. Then the wonderful makeup ladies came in and made us HD ready! One of the most memorable events of the morning comes from the contestant coordinators and the awesome training they provided. The appropriate way to spin the wheel, rules of the game, successful strategies from previous contestants. It was all valuable and helpful. After all, the game really is harder than it looks on TV.

After we were all trained, fed, prepped and ready, it was time. The cameras rolled, Pat and Vanna walked out and I had a date with a 4,000 pound wheel! No regrets, no turning back, the time had come. Watch me spin on Wednesday, April 28th to see how I did!